Martino confirmed as Barcelona boss

ESPN staff

July 23, 2013

Barcelona have announced that Gerardo Martino is set to sign a two-year contract to replace Tito Vilanova.

Martino, who led Newell's Old Boys to the Argentinian Clausura title last season, has been appointed after it was announced on Friday that Vilanova was stepping down after a recurrence of his throat cancer.

"FC Barcelona have reached an agreement to appoint Gerardo Martino as the new coach of the football team for the next two seasons. This agreement is pending the drafting and signing of the contract," a club statement read.

"In the coming hours [a programme will be planned for] his arrival in Barcelona, signing the contract and the subsequent presentation."

A number of coaches had been linked with the vacancy at the Liga champions, including Luis Enrique, Andre Villas-Boas, Marcelo Bielsa, Michael Laudrup and Guus Hiddink, who resigned as coach of Anzhi Makhachkala on Monday.

The club said on Tuesday morning that Martino's flights will be organised in the coming hours and the contract would be signed on his arrival, before Barca officially present their new coach.

Martino, who is also known as 'Tata', will become the fourth Argentine to take the reins at the Camp Nou, following in the footsteps of Roque Olsen, Helenio Herrera and Cesar Luis Menotti.

Sport claims that Barca's new boss will bring over three members of his coaching staff - assistant Jorge Pautasso, fitness expert Elvio Paolorroso and Adrian Coria, a coach who trained Leo Messi during his time at Newell's youth academy